Shodhan Rai Aims for Gold at Natural Olympia After World Cup Triumph

Shodhan Rai's Remarkable Achievement

By Sahil Kohli

Las Vegas [USA], November 12: Indian natural bodybuilder Shodhan Rai recently celebrated his impressive victory at the Iron Man World Natural Bodybuilding World Cup, where he secured two gold medals. His focus now shifts to achieving his first gold at the upcoming Natural Olympia, a competition where he has previously earned numerous accolades.

After clinching gold in both the Junior Masters and Masters categories on November 6, Shodhan expressed his excitement, stating, “Winning two medals on an international platform, especially at a World Cup, is truly remarkable. Maintaining my consistent performance over the past two years was a key objective, and I aimed to enhance my conditioning, which ultimately led to my success.”

He emphasized the importance of feedback from judges during last year's event, which motivated him to work on his weaknesses, including increasing cardio sessions and focusing on his chest and shoulders.

“My goal was to maximize my potential based on the judges' insights from last year. With new competitors entering the scene, I needed to prepare an additional 10-15% to outperform my previous efforts. I specifically targeted my weaker areas, such as adding more cardio and improving my upper body strength, which had previously affected my scores,” he explained.

Training at the renowned Gold’s Gym in Los Angeles, a favorite of fitness legend Arnold Schwarzenegger, was a highlight for Shodhan. He fondly recalled discussions with Joseph Baena, Schwarzenegger's son, about the rising popularity of natural bodybuilding in India. Joseph expressed enthusiasm about visiting India for events to promote the sport.

“Training at the Venice Gold’s Gym, known as the Mecca of Bodybuilding, significantly enhances my preparation. Joseph is a genuinely humble individual, and I appreciate his commitment to natural bodybuilding. I invited him to compete in India, sharing insights about the sport's growing popularity there. As the president of INBA India, I am eager to bring him over for various events,” he added.

With the Natural Olympia, the premier event in natural bodybuilding, approaching on Friday, Shodhan, who has previously earned two silver and six bronze medals, is determined to secure a gold medal by following the successful strategies he employed during his World Cup victory.

“I am applying the same preparation methods I used for the World Cup, which took place just a week ago. I had registered for the Natural Olympia last year and aim to arrive in even better shape, with increased muscle mass. This is a significant goal for me, and I hope to achieve a better outcome than my silver medal from last year,” he stated.

At 45 years old and with over three decades of competitive experience, Shodhan attributes his longevity in the sport to his commitment to natural bodybuilding, avoiding shortcuts and anabolic steroids. He is passionate about promoting natural bodybuilding for future generations of Indian athletes and believes it has the potential to gain mainstream recognition.

“My vision has always been long-term, not just a fleeting success in international competitions. Initially, I struggled to place well due to competing in non-tested federations. However, with the establishment of natural bodybuilding federations, I finally had a fair chance,” he noted.

“Competing naturally has been crucial for my sustained success. I believe that maintaining a natural approach enhances overall health. My goal is to inspire the next generation in India to embrace this sport. With proper nutrition, weight training, and adequate rest, anyone can excel. I am optimistic that with increased corporate support, more young people will take up this sport, and it can become as mainstream as cricket in India,” he concluded.